Youth Services and Public Libraries offers strategies to match the information needs and wants of children and young adults in public libraries and translates these into knowledge for providing relevant services. The latest trends in service provision are covered within the context of appropriate management, programming and marketing of services. The book is grounded in the principles of public library services to children and young adults everywhere. Links practical application of library programming to theoretical foundations of service Illustrates concepts with reference to the developmental needs of children and young adults Describes how to implement library policies which recommend, design, direct, supervise and evaluate active youth services programs

These standards provide measures for evaluating communities' needs for public library services, and summarize the essentials for quality service for youth and those who work with youth. New management tools, specifically guides for planning and role setting and manuals for defining output measures, the challenge of electronic access, as well as the State of New York mandate that public libraries provide Outreach Services necessitated a revision of standards. Forty-two standards are divided into the following chapters: "Philosophy of Service"; "Recommendations for Planning for Public Library Service for Youth"; "Recommendations for Staffing for Public Library Service for Youth"; "Recommendations for Service for Children"; and "Recommendations for Service for Youth Adults." Appendices include a list of the Standards; a discussion of the effect of the Americans with Disabilities Act on library services for youth; a summary of the planning process; a chart illustrating developmental characteristics of youth and their relationship to library services; the American Library Association competencies for librarians serving children and youth; recommendations on furniture and equipment for children; and minimum standards for public libraries in New York State. (Contains 31 references.) (AEF)

This book reports on a study examining 'Imposed Queries in the School Library Media Center, ' and is a follow up to a pilot study on the same topic. The analysis is presented in a way that provides a clear road map for researchers, students, and practitioners who wish to undertake a study of this type, or to advance thinking about the place of imposed queries in information seeking. Particular attention is given to the special nature of the investigative processes undertaken and the concerns researchers have when approaching the study of children in information-providing environments. The research process is described in detail and highlights research questions, methodological issues, and data gathering techniques. The literature on children as a user group and as information seekers is reviewed, and the research findings and conclusions are discussed. Also, advice is offered for readers interested in undertaking their own study of imposed and self-generated queries